In an telephone interview with Voice of America radio, she backed the idea of Palestinian unity. Audio of the full interview available here.
"I believe that it's important, if there is some reconciliation and a move toward a unified authority, that it's very clear that Hamas knows the conditions that have been set forth by the quartet, by the Arab summit. They must renounce violence, recognize Israel, and abide by previous commitments. Otherwise, I don't think it will result in the kind of positive step forward either for the Palestinian people or as a vehicle for a reinvigorated effort to obtain peace that leads to a Palestinian state"A State Department official said Clinton and Foreign Minister Franco Frattini of Italy, which currently holds the presidency of the Group of Eight wealthy nations, backed those conditions during a meeting at the State Department today.
It's been reported that the two had a "mind meld" and agreed on the need to send a united message on Hamas. Frattini let it be known that some unspecified members of the European Union were willing to yield.
The Secretary will be leaving soon for her next trip to Israel. Monday she will be in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to join an international conference aimed at raising money for the Palestinians to rebuild the war-battered territory. It's been said she will be ready to hand over 900 million dollars, but that will depend on how well the Palestinians meet the conditions of the quartet.
"I will be announcing a commitment to a significant aid package, but it will only be spent if we determine that our goals can be furthered rather than undermined or subverted."Read entire post
